Riku sat on a park bench, nibbling a rice ball. Beside him, his Sandshrew was eating a Pecha berry. The two of them were almost inseparable. Riku met his Sandshrew when he was with his father on an expedition when they had gone to a newly discovered ruin. The Sandshrew had been just coming out of the ground when Riku had tripped over him. Then, during a cave in, Riku had saved Sandshrew. Since then the two had been together.
Riku finished his snack and stood up. Sandshrew place the berry in this mouth and hopped onto Riku's soft, short, brown hair. Riku smiled and began striding through the town he was in and headed towards the nearby route. Sandshrew took the berry from his mouth and quickly gobbled it down. He them toppled off Riku's head, onto his shoulder. Sandshrew crawled into the deep hood on Riku's black hoodie vest and took a well needed nap. Riku smiled and stuffed his hands into his blue jean pockets and peered into the soft, peaceful, afternoon sky. It was a clear day aside from the few spots of wispy clouds scattered across the sky.
Riku was then interrupted by a sudden rustle in the bush. Riku whipped his head over to the noise and saw a Flareon pop out. He watched as it stood up and glanced at him. It let out a small eep and dashed into the bush. When dashing off, Riku noticed a black bandana on its tail. Then, it clicked.
"That was one of the Evolution Bandits!" Riku exclaimed racing after the little Pokémon. There was a reward for whoever caught them. Riku was short on cash and thought this would be the perfect way to make some pay. Sandshrew held onto Riku's hood as the wind whipped at him. Riku could just barely see the little Flareon's tail flailing through the air. It broke out of the bush with Riku behind it. Riku stopped and looked forward to see a girl. She was sitting on her legs, petting an Umbreon. She turned her head slightly, looking at Riku. Her soft mahogany hair tumbled over her shoulders and her deep green eyes shimmered at him.
Sandshrew crawled back onto Riku's shoulder and looked at his love-struck face. He began poking Riku's cheek hoping for a reaction but getting nothing. He waved his paws around and jumped up and down trying to get his attention. Nothing. Sandshrew slapped Riku across the face and huffed without any luck, sitting down.
"Who are you?" the girl cooed. Her angelic voice fluttered into Riku's ears waking him up, partially. He smiled idiotically and Sandshrew rolled his eyes, knowing what was going to happen.
"I Flareon, you," he murmured. The girl cocked her head confused.
"Your name is Flareon?" she asked. Riku realized his mistake and rubbed his head.
"No, no, I meant I was following your Flareon, not that my name is Flareon," Riku corrected "My name is Riku, and yours?" The girl picked up the Umbreon who had climbed onto her lap and stood up.
"My name is Saphiria," she replied walking over to him. Riku looked her up and down; she was wearing a pink blouse and a pair of black leggings. Her hair was down to her waist and wasn't as well kept as most girls but still beautiful. The girl held out the Umbreon.
"This is Lust," Saphiria explained. She turned to the other Pokémon "There is Sakura, the Flareon, Kia the Jolteon, Ressa the Valporeon, Envy the Leafeon, Gem the Glaceon and Foresee the Espeon." Riku looked at the Pokémon; each was sporting the black bandana that symbolized a member of the Eeveelution bandits. Then he remembered the reason that he followed that Flareon.
"Well, I just wanted to let you know that your Pokémon have been stealing," Riku said relaxed. He was trying not to offend Saphiria. Saphiria looked at Lust.
"Is that true?" she asked. Lust nodded as did the other Pokémon. She pouted. "Come on you guys shouldn't be stealing stuff for me, if I want stuff I'll get a job." The Pokémon shrieked and dashed to Saphiria and began pawing at her.
"Looks like they don't like that at all," Riku smiled. Sandshrew rolled his eyes again and smacked his hand on Riku's cheek. Riku looked at him and Sandshrew wagged his tail.
"Well," Riku murmured "There is one way to make money and always be with your Pokémon."
"Really? What?" Saphiria asked. Riku smiled slightly.
"Become a Pokémon trainer. I am going around to gym battles to become a champion but if you don't want to fight, you could always be a coordinator," he explained. Saphiria spun around and nodded.
"That would be so great! Can you take me there?" she asked. By all of Saphiria's obliviousness, Riku could tell she didn't go out much. He rubbed the back of his neck and nodded.
"Yeah, I can take you," he replied. Then he started thinking again. Am I insane? I barely know this girl and I am offering to take her with me? He thought. Saphiria jumped into the air.
"Oh, thank you thank you thank you!" She cheered hissing Riku on the cheek. Riku's face lit up and he smiled. Yep, I'm insane. But it's worth it, he decided. Kai and Ressa trotted off together. They returned, dragging a burlap sack behind them. Saphiria lifted the bag and slung it onto her shoulder.
"Alright, let's go," she smiled. Riku nodded and returned to the path. Sandshrew rolled back into Riku's hood and fell asleep again. Riku continued to walk along Route 121 heading to Viamoth City, where his first gym and Saphiria's first day as a trainer lay.